Fishing Near Me | Dave Harrell's Top 10 river venues for 2018
With the new year upon us i thought it would be a good idea to talk you through some of the rivers that I think you might like to try in 2018. Timing is the key with some of the venues, as some are better in the warmer months while others come into their own as its gets colder.
1) RIVER THAMES
I continue to be impressed with the Thames, especially during the summer months. My friends Paul Glenfield and John Beesley have worked tirelessly on the stretch between Abingdon and Appleford Reach and created a great match length. There are loads of roach, skimmers and bream here, and I’ll definitely be back for more next year!
2) RIVER CALDER
This popular Yorkshire river was once polluted to the point where nothing could survive in its murky waters, but it’s now full of fish! There are regular matches on this venue, and they’re always well attended.
3) RIVER SWALE
I fell in love with this little river on the first visit a few years ago and I always look forward to fishing it every summer. The chub here aren’t easy to catch, but when you get one it’s like being plugged into the mains!
4) RIVER SOAR
I was very impressed with this river last summer and I can’t wait to get back on there again. I understand match organiser Tony Beech is going to run a summer series, culminating in a big-money final, and I’ll definitely be trying to qualify for that!
5) RIVER DON
I’ve never fished this river but I’m hoping to get on there before the season ends if it’s fishing okay. I love floatfishing in deep water and this is generally a very deep river. It’s a perfect place for anglers to learn about Bolo fishing.
6) RIVER SEVERN
The Severn continues to improve, and I’ve had good catches from Shrewsbury (a favourite of mine) down to Upton. I’d love to see Stourport return to its former glory.
This venue is one of the best in the country at times from October to March, and it’s a crying shame that someone in the area won’t take control and make it happen.
The fishing here can be absolutely brilliant and I’m really pleased that the river at Shrewsbury has been chosen as the venue for this year’s RiverFest Final in November.
7) RIVER TRENT
Quite where the roach go in this river during the winter months is anyone’s guess. During the summer there were loads to be caught all the way from Burton down to the tidal stretches, and I’m sure they’ll be back again next summer.
The Trent has developed into the best big-barbel river in the country and over the year there have been some huge fish landed. I’ve had catches of 20-plus barbel in a day, with several double-figure fish, all on float gear!
8) RIVER WYE
This river continues to produce the goods year after year, despite the heavy angling pressure that it receives.
There are plenty of barbel and chub to go at in the summer months, while the winter months see a shift in species, with dace and roach as well as chub coming more into play.
9) RIVER YARE
I wish this Norfolk river was closer to me so I could go every week in the summer. It’s teeming with roach and bream, and the weights are always pretty consistent.
Hopefully, I’ll get over there for a few of the double-header weekends in the summer.
10) WARWICKSHIRE AVON
The Avon above and below Evesham fished well over the course of the year, but it has to be said that Evesham itself was difficult, with low weights being the order of the day most weekends.
I think the reason for this is angling pressure, as there are matches on there three or four days a week.
There aren’t enough fish in the stretch for anglers to be able to do this and put together consistently good weights.
Fishing near me | Top 20 Roach Fishing Hotspots
Want to know where you can catch a big net of roach or target specimen redfins?
Take a look at our 20 top UK roach fishing waters. These superb venues will help you catch big roach and lots of them.
Its easy to find some of the UK's Top Roach Fishing Venues
Whether you want to find the best rivers to trot a float or fish a maggot feeder on one of the nation's top roach stillwaters, here are the best places to fish for the species.
Need help to catch big roach? Try our Top 10 baits for roach.
RIVERS & CANALS
Aire & Calder Canal, Altofts, W Yorks
The Aire & Calder Canal is a top roach fishing venue.
This section is fished regularly by match anglers because of its quality of roach sport. Bags to over 20lb are often caught on the pole, waggler or small feeder tactics.
Contact: Chris Roberts Tackle 01484 545032
Prices: £2.50 from Chris Roberts Fishing Tackle, Mirfield AC
River Avon, Britford, Wilts
Traditional waggler and maggot or stickfloat tactics are hard to beat for the roach, with an elusive 2lb plus specimen certainly not out of the question.
Contact: Reids Tackle, 01722 711616, London AA
Prices: £10 a day
River Brue, West Lydford, Somerset
30lb nets have been caught from this tiny river this winter with individual fish to over 3lb.
Contact: Somerset Angling 01278 431777
Prices: £7 from Somerset Angling Centre, Glaston Manor AC
River Dee, Farndon, Cheshire
This stretch has always been a winter hotspot where bags of roach to over 30lb are not uncommon.
Contact: Tackle Locker 01244 345069
Prices: Free fishing
River Frome, Wareham, Dorset
huge roach to over 3lb have been taken from this venue in the past. A lot of big specimens are caught on bread flake or maggots.
Contact: Purbeck Angling, 01929 550770
Prices: Free fishing
River Old Nene, March, Cambs
A top roach venue where simple whip and pole tactics can account for huge bags of roach to over 30lb.
Contact: Millview Tackle 01354 660566
Prices: Free fishing in the town centre
River Welland, Spalding Town Centre, Lincs
In the autumn and winter the roach fishing is at its best with 30lb bags commonplace. Fish a pole or waggler.
Contact: Granz Angling, 01775 712206
Prices: Free fishing
STILLWATERS
A12 Cuton Lakes, Chelmsford, Essex
Specimen Lake One has shown that it is much more than just a big fish lake with roach nets approaching the 30lb mark. Dead maggots over groundbait will keep bites coming all day.
07946 847703, Postcode: CM2 6NX
Bradshaw Hall Fisheries, Bolton, Lancs
Lake Four has sprung into silverfish form this winter and 25lb hauls of roach are always on the cards. Casters at half depth will find the biggest specimens.
01204 307197, Postcode: BL2 4JW
All the lakes at Bradshaw Hall Fishery hold roach.
Clattercote Reservoir, Banbury, Oxon
Fishing around 13m out with double red maggot over groundbait is certain to get roach over the 1lb mark feeding. Alternate between two lines to make sure action doesn’t dry up.
01908 302556, Postcode: OX17 1DR
Cobbleacre Lakes, Norwich, Norfolk
This up-and-coming venue continues to draw in the crowds and it easy to see why as Amys and Adams continue to throw up 30lb roach catches. Waggler and maggot can be deadly.
07879 816181, Postcode: NR10 5NL
Lloyds Meadow, Chester, Cheshire
Kingfisher Pool may not be the biggest water around but it is home to some astonishing roach. If there is a touch of colour in the water, fish to 1lb 8oz can be caught on a top kit with hemp and caster.
01928 740710, Postcode: CH3 8BD
Messingham Sands, Scunthorpe, E Yorks
All of the day ticket lakes are in great form for large hauls of roach and several 40lb bags have been recorded by pleasure anglers this year. Keep it simple by using maggots or casters at various depths.
01724 763647, Postcode: DN17 3AX
Messingham Sands is one of the North's top roach fishing waters
Mill Farm Fishery, Gilmorton, Leics
The Main Lake is extremely deep but presenting a waggler or slider will still find lots of redfins averaging 12oz. Feed small balls of groundbait over the top regularly.
01455 552392 , Postcode: LE17 5NR
None-Go-Bye Farm, Leeds, W Yorks
The pegs with plenty of open water tend to be home to the most 1lb plus roach on the Main Lake and it is then a case of making sure they stay there by feeding casters all day.
01132 842206, Postcode: LS18 5HZ
Pool Bridge Farm, York, N Yorks
Horseshoe Lake has shown on countless occasions why many rate this as the region’s best roach water with catch over 30lb. Fishing on the deck rarely works, with casters at half depth a good option.
07928 359420, Postcode: YO19 4SQ
Renny Lake, Northallerton, N Yorks
The water nearest the car park is in red hot form for roach and they certainly have an appetite so it is worth taking a couple of pints of casters with you. Specimens over 1lb also likely to show up.
07885 776291, Postcode: DL6 2EA
Tanyards Fisheries, Uckfield, Sussex
The Carp Free Lake is only shallow but it is teeming with quality roach that respond well to maggot or caster over groundbait. The pegs closest the café are currently the fliers.
0783532842, Postcode: TN22 3RL
Tricklebrook Fisheries, Five Oak Green, Kent
catch quality roach like these at Tricklebrook.
If you have never caught a 2lb roach then the Main Lake is definitely one of the best places to try for that elusive personal best. Triple maggot or even corn will stand out to these big fish.
07743 955812, Postcode: TN12 6SH
Wold Farm Fisheries, Podington, Northants
The Oaks lake is home to just about every species you could think of but in winterit is the roach that dominate. Fish over 1lb are common, with maggots, bread and casters the top trio of baits.
07974 000230, Postcode: NN29 7JQ
Wyreside Lakes, Lancaster, Lancs
Thousands of quality roach have been placed into Fox’s Lake in recent years and 2lb fish are now a common sight. Use triple maggot or caster to find these huge specimens.
01524 792093, Postcode: LA2 9DG
SPECIMEN ROACH
BLUEBELL LAKES
Tansor, Northants
It’s not just big carp that inhabit Bluebell Lake, with roach up to 2lb stocked in big numbers and they have been coming out this winter. Cast a maggot feeder to the middle to find the shoals
Contact: 01733 226042 www.bluebell-lakes.co.uk
BURY HILL FISHERY
Dorking, Surrey
Milton Lake is the place to head to for a potential personal best, with delicate pole and waggler rigs with maggot or caster scoring for redins to over 2lb.
Contact: 01306 883621 www.buryhillfisheries.co.uk
LINCH HILL FISHERY
Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire
Some of the sport’s biggest names have visited Willow Lake after the roach and it is no surprise when you consider that redfins over 3lb are a regular visitor to the bank.
Contact: 01865 882215 www.linchhillfishery.co.uk
LOCHNAW CASTLE FISHERY
Stunning roach from Law Naw Fishery
Stranraer, Scotland
Some of the biggest roach in the land inhabit this picturesque fishery. Introduce plenty of particles via a spod and use a maggot feeder over the top with a big bait such as an 8mm or 10mm boilie.
Contact: info@lochnawcastle.co.uk, www.lochnawcastle.co.uk
NEWBRIDGE LAKES
Burstwick, East Yorkshire
The seven acre Newbridge Lake is a popular carp runs water but the pool is known to hold roach to 3lb too.
Contact: 07817 058054, Postcode: HU129HS
SION FARM FISHERY
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Use slightly bigger baits to try and get through the smaller roach. Corn, triple maggot or caster all worth trying for a potential personal best.
Contact: 01562 730386, Postcode: DY10 4PF
SPRINGWATER FISHERY
Dalrymple, Ayrshire
The coarse fishing loch sprung to fame this year after matchmen caught a series of roach over the 2lb barrier. Use maggots and casters both shallow and on the bottom.
Contact: 01292 560343www.springwaterfishery.co.uk
The Island Lake on Sion Farm is full of big roach to over 2lb.